Method for controlling fuel cell vehicle

• US 7,996,124 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2008
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Jeon, Soon Il, Kwon, Sang Uk
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coleman; Marthe Marc
• Application Number:
  US12/228,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20090222157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 701/36, 363/95, 363/41, 363/58, 429/430
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/31 for starting of fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/28 including control of fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/192 Mitigating problems related to power-up or power-down of the driveline, e.g. start-up of a cold engine
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04291 Arrangements for managing water in solid electrolyte fuel cell systems H01M8/04119 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

In one aspect a method for controlling a fuel cell vehicle is provided, comprising generating a torque (T_ACCEL) calculated based or an accelerator pedal depression value upon completion of start-up of a fuel cell and entering a fuel cell only mode; performing a torque limit control for the torque (T_ACCEL) calculated based on the accelerator pedal depression value; performing charging from the fuel cell to a power storage means while the vehicle moves slowly by the torque limit control under the fuel cell only mode; and directly connecting the fuel cell to the power storage means by a main relay to enter a hybrid mode, when a voltage difference between the fuel cell and the power storage means is within a predetermined range. Preferred methods can protect the fuel cell, reduce the time for vehicle start-up and improve driving performance.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a fuel cell vehicle, the method comprising:

generating a torque (T_ACCEL) calculated based on an accelerator pedal depression value upon completion of start-up of a fuel cell and entering a fuel cell only mode;

performing a torque limit control for the torque (T_ACCEL) calculated based on the accelerator pedal depression value;

performing charging from the fuel cell to a power storage means while the vehicle moves slowly by the torque limit control under the fuel cell only mode; and

directly connecting the fuel cell to the power storage means by a main relay to enter a hybrid mode, when a voltage difference between the fuel cell and the power storage means is within a predetermined range,

wherein the charging of the power storage means is performed by a current limit control according to a duty ratio control of an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) of an initial charging device, connected between the fuel cell and the power storage means, before the fuel cell and the power storage means are directly connected.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the torque limit control, the torque (T_ACCEL) calculated based on the accelerator pedal depression value is obtained by multiplying a maximum motor torque (T_MAX) by an accelerator pedal depression value (β

_Dep;

0 to

     1), and a limited torque is calculated by multiplying the torque (T_ACCEL) by a torque correction factor (α

) having a constant value.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the torque correction factor (α

) is gradually increased when the fuel cell only mode is changed to the hybrid mode, where the fuel cell and the power storage means are directly connected and, if the torque correction factor (α

) is increased up to a predetermined maximum value, a normal operation is performed without any torque limit control.

4. A method for controlling a fuel cell vehicle, the method comprising:

generating a torque (T_ACCEL) calculated based on an accelerator pedal depression value upon completion of start-up of a fuel cell and entering a fuel cell only mode;

performing a torque limit control for the torque (T_ACCEL) calculated based on the accelerator pedal depression value;

performing charging from the fuel cell to a power storage means while the vehicle moves slowly by the torque limit control under the fuel cell only mode; and

directly connecting the fuel cell to the power storage means by a main relay to enter a hybrid mode, when a voltage difference between the fuel cell and the power storage means is within a predetermined range,

wherein, in the torque limit control, the torque (T_ACCEL) calculated based on the accelerator pedal depression value is obtained by multiplying a maximum motor torque (T_MAX) by an accelerator pedal depression value (β

_Dep;

0 to

     1), and a limited torque is calculated by multiplying the torque (T_ACCEL) by a torque correction factor (α

) having a constant value.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the torque correction factor (α

) is gradually increased when the fuel cell only mode is changed to the hybrid mode, where the fuel cell and the power storage means are directly connected and, if the torque correction factor (α

) is increased up to a predetermined maximum value, a normal operation is performed without any torque limit control.